They write menacing software with names like "Blaster," "Welchia" and "Sobig" that worm around the Internet, leaving destruction in their path and detectives and computer security firms hot on their trail.

Computer virus writers have unleashed an unprecedented outbreak of computer worms this past week. And while finding them will not be easy, experts generally believe they are ego-filled computing geeks out to impress others.

"Every major law-enforcement agency is looking into this. At the end of the day, we want to prosecute," said a cyber crime investigator at the UK's National Hi-Tech Crime Unit who asked to remain anonymous.

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